Educational Articles

Knowledge Base

Trading the markets can seem extremely daunting and complicated when you first start out. With a large amount of information easily accessible online, as well as ever-increasing ways to interpret charts, data and fast-moving markets, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or succumb to the fear of the unknown.

One of the best things to keep in mind then is simplicity. Let’s begin step by step with simple terms and definitions that will be used in your trading journey.

Reading time • 7 minute(s)

Central bank policy

Learn about central banks and why they are so important to both markets and traders alike.

Reading time • 8 minute(s)

Commodities

Learn how to trade the unique and exciting asset class of commodities and what drives their price behaviours.

Reading time • 3 minute(s)

Global Trading Sessions

One of the most exciting and interesting things about the financial markets is the fact that they are open 24 hours a day. This allows traders from all over the world - no matter what time-zone they’re in - to trade during work hours, after work or even throughout the night.

Reading time • 5 minute(s)

Intermarket correlation

Find out what intermarket correlation is and how you can use it to inform your trading.

Reading time • 5 minute(s)

Introduction to Risk Management

Risk management should be an essential part of your trading strategy. Learn the basics of risk management and how to apply it to your trading plan.

Reading time • 6 minute(s)

Market sentiment and positioning

Markets are often driven by emotion, rather than economics. Find out more with this lesson.

Reading time • 2 minute(s)

MT4: Basic Layout

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is one of the most popular trading platforms in the trading world. Its simple and intuitive interface makes it one of the mainstays of the industry, having been used for decades by traders all over the world.

Reading time • 1 minute(s)

MT4: Charts & Customisation

Learn to use advanced technical analysis tools on MT4, such as trend lines, support and resistance levels, channels & more with XTB’s comprehensive tutorial.

Reading time • 2 minute(s)

MT4: How to Open a Trade

Placing a trade on MT4 trading platform is exceptionally easy, intuitive and fast. MT4 offers you several ways of placing a trade, which we've explained in the lesson below.

Reading time • 1 minute(s)

MT4: Market Watch

In essence, the Market Watch is your window into the world of investments from around the globe. Learn how to place your first trade through MT4, and choose from Forex, commodities, indices, equity CFDs and ETFs.

Reading time • 3 minute(s)

MT4: Pending Orders

Unlike instant execution orders, where a trade is placed at the current market price, pending orders allow you to set orders that are opened once the price reaches a specific level, chosen by you.

Reading time • 4 minute(s)

MT4: Stop Loss, Take Profit & Trailing Stop

As we’ve already explained in our Basic Terms and Vocabulary tutorial, one of the keys to achieving success in financial markets over the long term is prudent risk management. That’s why stop losses and take profits should be an integral part of your trading.

Reading time • 2 minute(s)

MT4: Terminal

The Terminal module located at the bottom of the MT4 platform allows you to manage and monitor all your trading activities, pending orders, trading account history, cash operations, overall balance, equity and your margin. Read on to learn more about how you can make the most of it.

Reading time • 4 minute(s)

Pip Value & Margin

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make as a trader when initiating your investment process is choosing a trading volume you can apply to your positions. The choice of trading volume will depend on many psychological factors such as emotional comfort and risk aversion, but the choice of trading volume will also be highly connected with the risk management that you plan to apply.

Reading time • 3 minute(s)

Risk:Reward Ratio and Probability

A risk:reward ratio can play an essential part in your trading strategy, and ensure that you're not risking too much of your capital. This lesson teaches you how to use ratios effectively.

Reading time • 7 minute(s)

Stocks

Learn more about stocks with this in-depth article.

Reading time • 3 minute(s)

Support and Resistance

Two common terms you’ll come across in trading - particularly in technical analysis - are the phrases ‘support’ and ‘resistance’ levels. But what do they mean and how do they apply to your trading?

Reading time • 4 minute(s)

The Importance of Macroeconomics

Learn how to understand various macroeconomic data releases and indicators, and how they could impact the financial markets.

Reading time • 3 minute(s)

The Influence of Politics

History knows that a lot of the sharpest moves in financial markets were caused by political rather than economic events. For example, the Brexit vote and US election provided high volatility and multiple trading opportunities. Learn more about the influence politics can have on the economy in this lesson.

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